Director of Student Development Operations
Director, Student Development Operations
Basic Function and Responsibility: To support the Student Development department through providing excellence in strategic leadership and operational support to the ongoing processes, projects, and operations of the division (~85%) and to the Vice President (~15%) as it fulfills the mission and vision of Student Development and Biola University.
Alignment with Theological Positions
Alignment with Theological Positions: The person who fills this position must be someone who personally agrees with Biola’s Articles of Faith and Statement of Biblical Principles and who is supportive of the positions taken by Biola as contained in its Eschatology Teaching Position. As such, this person may not speak against or act in a manner inconsistent with these positions during the course of their employment at Biola.
Primary Responsibilities:
1. Divisional Project Management and Leadership (25%)
● Provides project management and leadership to the significant divisional events and programs including but not limited to: ○ University Welcome Week/Day
○ Colloquy (annual professional development day for the full division)
○ Monthly Divisional Meetings
○ Baccalaureate Service
● Lead and support projects on behalf of the divisional leadership that support the vision and strategic initiatives of the division, including but not limited to: ○ Annual Student Development assessment projects
○ Campus-wide integrated student leadership development
○ Ensuring the collaboration of Community Life, Spiritual Development, Athletics, and Student Wellbeing departments to integrate their work on behalf of the student body.
○ Integrating the Core Team strategic plan within the divisional priorities.
○ Lead and manage the ongoing divisional communications and updates.
2. Divisional Support (25%):
● Participate in the cross-cutting initiatives led by the Student Development Leadership Team.
● Represents the Student Development division by serving on committees as requested.
● Provides administrative support to the division through managing the logistics of the Student Services building, maintaining the Student Development directory, organizational charts, and email lists, sending appropriate mass communication to SD staff as necessary, and monitoring the divisional email account in conjunction with other division leadership.
● Assists the divisional leadership with annual processes related to budget planning, hiring, performance reviews, staff change documentation, and budget monitoring.
● Supervises and trains front-line desk staff and student workers serving students, families, staff and faculty who enter the Student Services building, maintaining a working knowledge of the variety of needs among constituents and providing timely, helpful responses.
● Manages projects that contribute to the overall success of divisional operations, including website development and maintenance, coordination of annual updates to the graduate and undergraduate handbook, and project management of Institutional Diversity Strategic Plan initiatives.
● Guide and support the departmental assessment process through gathering annual goals, performance evaluations, and mid-year reports from staff members and submitting to Human Resources.
● Support the divisional leadership in awarding the annual SD department scholarship awards.
● Support the Title IX office with case intake, communication, and logistics.
3. Manage the Campus Mentoring Initiatives (20%)
● Provides leadership and support to the Cabinet mentoring group selection, recruitment, and support process.
● Provides oversight of the Intentional Living Community project, including the selection and approval process in coordination with Housing and Residence Life, the on-call responsibilities, and the interpersonal development and mentoring of the residents.
● Works with a variety of campus partners to ensure a culture of mentoring is present across the university.
● Serve as a member of the on-call response team for student emergencies.
4. Advise the Biola Student Government Association (15%)
● Advises the Student Government Association (SGA) as they advocate on behalf of, represent, and support the Biola student body.
● Meets consistently with the elected members of SGA to guide their work within the SGA constitution and bylaws.
● Integrates the SGA initiatives with other campus stakeholders such as Housing and Residence Life, Spiritual Development, Student Missionary Union, Auxiliary Services, and Campus Engagement, among others.
● Ensures the divisional leadership is aware of current trends and concerns of the student body and involved in the ongoing student conversations as appropriate.
5. VP Support and Representation (15%):
● Supports the VP by collaborating in the divisional budget planning process, guiding the annual assessment projects, providing research assistance on projects, extending logistical support for divisional meetings, and activating strategic planning initiatives with the VP.
● Support the VP in occasional management of calendar and preparation for key meetings (agendas, reports, copies of materials, room reservations, set-up, recording minutes, etc.).
6. Other Tasks as Assigned: The role is fast-paced, strategic, and integrative, which means he/she may be pulled into various committees, projects, meetings, processes and tasked with items that contribute to the overall mission of the division, including support services to other Deans/Directors within the division.
Supervision Received: The position reports to the Vice President for Student Development and works closely with the SD Core Team, particularly the Dean of Community Life.
Character and Skills Qualifications:
● Professional, composed, independent worker. Flexible, works well with multiple tasks at once. Task oriented, able to work with minimum supervision, commitment to Christian Higher Education.
● Able to respect and uphold issues of confidentiality with poise, especially related to Cabinet-level information, personnel, budget and student issues.
● Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively and professionally with a wide variety of individuals.
● Demonstrates ability to communicate professionally with others in person, by email, and on the phone; specifically displaying excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong editing/proofing skills.
● Demonstrates cultural competence and humility with staff, faculty and students alike.
● Should demonstrate high energy, inclusive and warm positive personality, and be an effective communicator of the strengths of Biola.
● Ability to work well with others and function as a team member.
● Able to work independently, managing his/her own workflow, prioritizing projects, and multi-tasking and planning for frequent deadlines.
● Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion in job performance with a cheerful, courteous, and helpful attitude.
● Excellent computer skills (proficiency in Google Suite, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint a must). Ability to use office equipment, copier, fax machine, multi-line telephone.
● Can produce digital presentations that are professional, visually attractive, and representative of the division’s excellence (basic graphic design skills preferred, but not required).
● Appreciates and can provide levity.
● Has the ability to be an extension of VP’s insight/leadership; understands and embraces the vision and mission of the division.
Education:
● Master’s Degree (preferred, but not required)
About Student Development
The vision of Student Development is to see Every Student: Empowered, Transformed & Thriving. The mission of Student Development is to create an integrated, Biblically-centered learning experience that promotes the whole person development of all students. Biola University affirms its value for and commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce. The division of Student Development is dedicated to being a diverse and inclusive department that will reflect the diversity of the Biola community and demonstrate intercultural proficiency.
Physical demands/Work environment:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The work in this position is performed within routine office conditions, usually without exposure to hazardous or unpleasant conditions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
1. Driving an automobile, van or truck on public roads and highways
2. Repetitive use of a computer screen, mouse and keyboard
3. Carrying, lifting, loading/unloading, and setting up for events
4. Walking across campus (stairs, uphill, etc.) to tend to daily errands, meetings, setup, deliveries, etc.
Hiring Range: $72,350.00 - 82,553.00 annual
Full-time, salaried position.